Cost to Acquire Union Pacific Rail Lines

[riceweb]

This is a bit of a wild idea, but I don't think I've ever heard this discussed on any city or transit forum.

Could the City of Omaha acquire Union Pacific's rail lines that run through the city?

Taking a look at this map (see the inset in the top-right corner for Douglas and Sarpy counties), it seems like the existing UP line running from Valley, thru Elkhorn, thru Millard, to downtown is nearly ideal for commuter/light rail: http://opportunity.nebraska.gov/files/b ... ailMap.pdf

Has eminent domain ever been considered to acquire existing rail lines? Would it be unimaginably expensive? Is the line even suitable for conversion to light rail? I have absolutely no idea--I'm not a railroad person. But with limited right-of-way elsewhere in the city and absurdly high costs for tunneling / elevating a line, it seems like this should at least be explored.

[Busguy2010]

I think that's a great line for commuter rail. But I can only see a best case scenario being a lease. And that would only be if it was logistically possible for them to clear the tracks for a commuter train, which I highly doubt it would be. It doesn't sound remotely legal to use eminent domain, and it would probably cost billions if it were even possible.

[Padre]

The other problem with using eminent domain is the damage it would do to UP and their network. Considering they are a large employer in the city, why go out of your way to make them mad?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

This is a bit of a wild idea, but I don't think I've ever heard this discussed on any city or transit forum.

Could the City of Omaha acquire Union Pacific's rail lines that run through the city?

Taking a look at this map (see the inset in the top-right corner for Douglas and Sarpy counties), it seems like the existing UP line running from Valley, thru Elkhorn, thru Millard, to downtown is nearly ideal for commuter/light rail: http://opportunity.nebraska.gov/files/b ... ailMap.pdf

Has eminent domain ever been considered to acquire existing rail lines? Would it be unimaginably expensive? Is the line even suitable for conversion to light rail? I have absolutely no idea--I'm not a railroad person. But with limited right-of-way elsewhere in the city and absurdly high costs for tunneling / elevating a line, it seems like this should at least be explored.

No idea on expense but easements with the railroads are used in a couple different capacities in Chicago. The Chicago Transit Authority has some sort of easement that allowed them to build both dedicated tracks and stations within some railroad’s right-of-way for a portion the L train’s Orange Line.

The commuter rail service, Metra, has an agreement to use the same tracks as the freight trains. They have easements for their commuter lines with all the major railroads that go through the region. The lines actually derive their names after whichever railroad owns the tracks. I frequently used the Union Pacific West line, for example. The commuter trains have to yield to the freight trains though, which can cause delays.

But, like I said, no idea on cost.

[riceweb]

The other problem with using eminent domain is the damage it would do to UP and their network. Considering they are a large employer in the city, why go out of your way to make them mad?

Obviously it would have to be done in partnership with them. I can't find an article on this now, but I've read previously that railroads have been slowly working to move outside of cities so they can improve reliability/speed, so UP might welcome an eminent-domain/leaseback agreement that allows them to build new lines thru rural areas instead. This would have to be done over a period of several years.

[Busguy2010]

The commuter rail service, Metra, has an agreement to use the same tracks as the freight trains. They have easements for their commuter lines with all the major railroads that go through the region. The lines actually derive their names after whichever railroad owns the tracks. I frequently used the Union Pacific West line, for example. The commuter trains have to yield to the freight trains though, which can cause delays.

But, like I said, no idea on cost.

This is what came to mind. It definitely could be done, like a lease agreement, but like you said, the commuter trains take a backseat to the freight trains. And Omaha just doesn't have the same traffic problems or the distances to cover as a city such as Chicago to make that trip potentially sitting idle for 5-10 or more minutes waiting for a freight train to pass by.

[damonhynes]

It's more than hypothetical that UP might decide that the Lane Cutoff line is redundant, especially if Omaha/Nebraska/Feds overpay for the ROW as governmental agencies are wont to do.

But rapid transit has to fulfill the desires of two masters--first, Omaha (a rail version of ORBT / Metro) and second, Omaha-Lincoln. Lane would take care of the first, but not the second. On the Buffett Northern side, BNSF might be persuaded to give up the Chalco-Gretna line (light rail doesn't mind grades as much) but that line doesn't hit most of the other suburbs line UP's Lane does.

If the Yellow Peril and Buffett Northern could be persuaded to share resources--to bridge past Omaha--then this could happen. UP gets trackage rights Oreopolis-Ashland-Fremont while BNSF gets Fremont-Mo Valley and points east? Dunno. Maybe too many balls to juggle. (Ashland-Fremont getting 60 trains/day?)

[bigredmed1]

Omaha's UP line is the perfect rote for heavy rail, but if Omaha was to build a light rail line it could just build it next to the line like St Louis did with their light rail.

I had hoped that the Old Main Line of the UP would have been preserved. That would have given us a rail link between Millard and downtown that would have kept UP’s Lane Cutoff unbothered by commuter traffic. We could always use what’s left of the road bed and then tie into the BNSF into downtown Lincoln at a point where the rails east of Chalco are closer to the OML, probably around Portal. That would make a fun stop. Omaha to Lincoln with a quick stop in Portal for a nice pint.